Viruses (Apr 2023)

Highly Pathogenic H5 Influenza Viruses Isolated between 2016 and 2017 in Vietnamese Live Bird Markets

  • Lizheng Guan,
  • Gongxun Zhong,
  • Shufang Fan,
  • Erin M. Plisch,
  • Robert Presler,
  • Chunyang Gu,
  • Lavanya Babujee,
  • David Pattinson,
  • Hang Le Khanh Nguyen,
  • Vu Mai Phuong Hoang,
  • Mai Quynh Le,
  • Harm van Bakel,
  • Gabriele Neumann,
  • Yoshihiro Kawaoka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051093
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 5
p. 1093

Abstract

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Routine surveillance in live poultry markets in the northern regions of Vietnam from 2016 to 2017 resulted in the isolation of 27 highly pathogenic avian H5N1 and H5N6 viruses of 3 different clades (2.3.2.1c, 2.3.4.4f, and 2.3.4.4g). Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of these viruses revealed reassortment with various subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Deep-sequencing identified minor viral subpopulations encoding variants that may affect pathogenicity and sensitivity to antiviral drugs. Interestingly, mice infected with two different clade 2.3.2.1c viruses lost body weight rapidly and succumbed to virus infection, whereas mice infected with clade 2.3.4.4f or 2.3.4.4g viruses experienced non-lethal infections.

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